Bulimia nervosa is characterized by a cycle of eating large amounts of food, sometimes very quickly or in secret, and then purging behaviors like vomiting, the use of laxatives, over-exercise, fasting, or restriction of food to make up for the bingeing. Often, there is a lot of shame around the binge/purge cycle, and that shame will continue to drive those behaviors.

Individuals suffering from bulimia are more likely to struggle with preoccupation with the relationship between weight and success. They may also struggle with co-occurring conditions such as self harm, substance abuse, and impulsive risky behaviors related to sex or shoplifting.